FRANKFORT—An annual day of prayer for Kentucky’s students would become part of state
law under a bill passed today in the House.
House Bill 40 sponsor Rep. Regina Huff, R-Williamsburg, said the annual prayer event
has been proclaimed by Kentucky’s governor the past two years. HB 40 would designate
the last Wednesday of September each year as “A Day of Prayer for Kentucky’s
Students” by law, and require the governor to issue an annual proclamation for the
event.
Huff said that HB 40 is respectful of all faiths by asking that Kentuckians spend
the day praying, meditating or reflecting “in accordance with their own faith and
consciences.” Students would be allowed to participate in the event at school before
the start of the instructional day.
“Their event at school will be student-initiated and conducted, and always before
the start of the school day,” Huff said.
The Kentucky event would be part of a global prayer initiative that Huff said would
be held the same day.
The idea for HB 40 was raised by students in Huff’s district and others who she said
“want to know that we are all united in this effort and that, on that particular day
each year, we will be united with them.”
“Given all that our students are facing … Our students need to know that we are
standing with them,” she said. “We all need to embrace this and be united in an
effort of support in each individual’s manner of prayer for our schools, students
and administrators.”
HB 40 passed on a vote of 83-5 and now goes to the Senate for its consideration.